Christine Lagarde, the French politician who replaced Dominique Strauss-Kahn
as head of the International Monetary Fund, was embroiled in a scandal of
her own yesterday when police raided her flat in Paris as part of an
investigation into claims of corruption.

The raids follow allegations that she acted illegally when she approved a €403
million payment to a controversial French tycoon while serving as the
Finance Minister.

In the latest chapter of an inquiry that is tarnishing her attempt to restore
the IMF’s reputation after Mr Strauss-Kahn’s resignation over allegations
that he tried to rape a hotel maid, police searched